my work place has started playing Christian muzak, what would you do?

[SheepyMcSheepster]

Well, my place of employment has started playing contemporary Christian muzak over the PA, this has been going for about 5 days now.

keep in mind i am pretty much surrounded by people of faith being that i live in western N.C.

they used to just choose various secular music programming and i would assume that they will eventually change it from the contemporary Christian in due time.

now don't get me wrong, i can deal with and actually enjoy lots of "Christian" music (classical/gospel) but this contemporary pop crap is just awful, it is more contrived and unoriginal than current contrived and unoriginal pop music. I find it very agitating just in a musical sense not to mention the constant proselytizing.

oddly enough this happens to be in a doctor's office, if i was a patient waiting to see a surgeon i would be very weary of a place that played music that endorsed religion.

i have thought about contacting the person in charge of this anonymously as i do not want to "out" myself as an atheist here. I don't want to make a big stink but i find it unprofessional and it really gets on my nerves.

what would you do?

thanks

[trotsky]

1. Maybe that anonymous comment, but written from a patient's POV.

Say something like, "Not all the patients we treat are Christians, some might not like hearing religious music. I think we should respect everyone's beliefs by playing only non-religious music."

[Warpy]

5. that was my idea

Or from a family member's point of view, stuck in the waiting room for a long time, having to listen to such irritating music, how do you expect Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim patients to feel?

I'd look for another job, too. If you ever do get outed at that job, you'll be made miserable. Been there.

[Book Lover]

2. I think the safer course of action

is to complain about the awful quality and repetitiveness of the music, only adding in later that the nature of it being all Christian all the time is bound to alienate a patient, or scare someone who is ill. Maybe they don't want to be thinking about god. Good luck.

[Gelliebeans]

3. If I was a patient

I wouldn't go there. Thats just me though. ;)

I also run to change the channel on the TV when I hear time/life commercials selling bible compilation CD's.

"Sing his Praises" selling for $14.95 and if you place your order within the next 12 minutes we will include "Rocking to Bible" absolutely free :rofl:

[phantom power]

4. take a play from "Animal House"

that scene where Belushi grabs that guy's guitar and smashes it, hands the remains back to him and says "sorry"... You could do that with the CD player, or radio, or whatever it is.

[Jokerman]

6. Sing a long, loudly and out of key.

Butchering the lyrics might also help.

[beam me up scottie]

7. There really is something to the

idea that patients would be offended.
I was recently shopping for a new OB/Gyn and I live in a VERY red area. I checked every source I could find to make sure I didn't get a fundie in a lab coat.
I had one bad experience here with my first GP (one of the worst homophobes I have met since moving here-I fired his ass) so I want to make damn sure I don't have another.

If I walked into her office next week and heard obvious christian music, I would walk right back out again.
Seriously.

I don't know if my perspective helps but I hope so, because I have no idea what I would do in your situation. It's a tough call.

[opiate69]

8. I'd find the cd player and put the new Slipknot in it.

:evilgrin:

[onager]

9. Or Bad Religion...

"American Jesus" should go over well.

I like those guys. AFAIK, they're all unapologetic atheists.

[NMMNG]

10. I was at my massage therapist recently

The first CD playing was just nature sounds combined with soft music. Then all of the sudden it switched over to hymns. I was no longer relaxed, to say the least.

Sending an anonymous note as if from a patient would likely be the best idea. That way you won't have to be 'outed' and worry about retribution or nasty treatment from your co-workers. Simply point out that 'for the comfort of all, music dedicated to a specific religion is best kept out of the office'.

Hopefully they will get the message.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

11. thanks for the replies everyone

i am gonna give it until the end of this week and if nothing changes i guess i will get medevil on their ass and write an anonymous note. :silly:

thanks again!

[SheepyMcSheepster]

12. small update:

heh, the HR person just came up to me and asked me if the muzak was on a christian channel, i told her yeah it is (see i am the tech guy here but i made it a point not to be involved with the muzak choices as someone will always be complaining about the music that is playing, so that is why she would ask me, i maintain the technical side of it but don't actually change the channels).

anyway, we will see what happens, and i know for a fact that the HR person is a christian who attends church regularly, i get the feeling she will mention something to the management about it not being appropriate.

i may not have to speak up after all and like i have said, i am kind of interested in seeing how long it goes on.

[immoderate]

13. Be oblique.

"Can't we find better music? This is kinda um, boring. Something more polyrhythmic, with modal chord progressions, perhaps."

--IMM

[Synnical]

14. Work Place = Business = Religious Harassment = Lawsuit

No need to "out" yourself. Approach it from a business standpoint. Playing strictly xian music in any office could make any number of people uncomfortable - and harassment is defined as just that.

Tell HR that "possibly not everyone who works here is a christian. What if we offend a jewish person? We're just setting the company up for a lawsuit! And do we want to risk losing patients due to this?"

I happen to be an outspoken and very open atheist. At a previous job, I was able to make them stop referring to the Year End Party as the "Christmas Party" when I pointed out the obvious. After I was laid off, they started referring to it again as the "Christmas Party". A former co-worker complained and was told, "Cindy doesn't work here anymore." He replied, "Cindy is not the only person who worked here that is not a christian."

Some times little things help out in the bigger picture.

:)

[leftofthedial]

15. rip the fucking speaker out of the ceiling.

Bring a boom box and let loose with some Dead Kennedys or something else non-lobotomized

[NMMNG]

16. Here's another idea

If you have some cajones and want to drive a point home....

Take in a small boom box and put it on your desk. Play a CD of anything related to another faith be it chants, music, prayers(Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu). Wait for even one person to object, then kindly point out that this is how some might feel about the Christian music.

What's good for the goose and all that...

[SheepyMcSheepster]

17. Update: thank God the channel has been changed!

after HR realized what was going on with the overhead muzak it would seem management was contacted and told they need to change the channel to something a little more appropriate for a work place.

so all is well and i didn't have to lift a finger.

now i have my strut back walking down the hall listening to the oldies channel :)

and just a little side note: the HR person who remedied the situation is indeed a regular church going Christian. this atheist was saved by a Christian :silly:

thanks for the replies everyone!

[Book Lover]

18. Glad to know

she's reasonable and sensitive. But are you stuck listening to Elton John now?

[SheepyMcSheepster]

19. no i haven't heard any elton john yet

but i did hear some steely dan earlier and i am not complaining, i can bebop with most anything except lame uninspired christian pop.

i am a happy man :)

[progressoid]

20. Steely Dan!!

Did they play "Bodhisattva"?

Or maybe "Time out of Mind"


Son you better be ready for love
On this glory day
This is your chance to believe
What I've got to say
Keep your eyes on the sky
Put a dollar in the kitty
Don't the moon look pretty

Tonight when I chase the dragon
The water will change to cherry wine
And the silver will turn to gold
Time out of mind

[Bluebear]

21. Time out of mind....GREAT tune!